时文选读 | AI与未来职场:哪些工作可能会被取代?
时文选读| AI与未来职场:哪些工作可能会被取代?AI and the Future of Work: What Jobs Are at Risk?七级偏易| 542词 刘立军供稿Part I. PassageThe rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened up a world of new possibilities, but it’s also sparking concerns about the future of their jobs. Many fear that AI could make certain roles obsolete. Recent data sheds light on which professions people are most worried about.According to a Pew Research Center survey, 73% of U.S. adults believe cashiers are likely to see job reductions due to AI within the next 20 years. Similarly, 67% think factory workers are at risk, 59% worry about journalists, and 48% express concerns for software engineers. Interestingly, while only 33% of the public sees truck drivers as vulnerable, 62% of AI experts predict job losses in this field.Molly Kinder, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains that much of the public’s anxiety stems from misconceptions about AI. She notes that people often conflate older forms of automation with the capabilities of generative AI. “Generative AI is not your grandparents’ automation,” Kinder said. “It’s advancing up the skill chain in ways the public may not fully grasp.”Historically, automation predominantly affected blue-collar jobs, such as those in manufacturing. However, generative AI is poised to disrupt white-collar roles by performing tasks like summarizing complex documents, analyzing large datasets, and engaging in conversational interactions. Research by Kinder and her colleagues identifies office and administrative support, legal, sales, computers and math, and business and financial sectors as the most exposed to generative AI. This includes roles like office clerks, travel agents, paralegals, computer programmers, and tax preparers.Mark Muro, another Brookings fellow and co-author of the report, highlights that exposure doesn’t necessarily mean replacement. “These white-collar, process-oriented jobs, which are a significant part of America’s middle class, need to be mindful of this,” he said. Whether AI will assist or replace workers in these roles remains uncertain.Eric So, a professor at MIT, emphasizes the transformative potential of AI. In just a few years, generative AI has evolved from simple chatbots to tools capable of creating realistic images, responding via voice, and even autonomously controlling devices. As agentic AI — systems that operate without human intervention — emerges, the societal impact could be profound. “This is truly a profound societal change,” So remarked.Despite its potential, the adoption of generative AI has been slower than anticipated. While some industries, like computer programming, are already seeing shifts, others, particularly regulated fields like medicine and law, are proceeding cautiously.Public anxiety about AI is growing. Pew surveys reveal that concern about AI usage rose from 40% in 2021-2022 to 51% today. Much of this worry revolves around job security. Colleen McClain, a senior researcher at Pew, notes that job-related fears have been a recurring theme for years.Muro acknowledges that these concerns are valid, especially as AI raises the bar for entry-level white-collar jobs and reshapes career opportunities for future generations. However, Kinder urges people not to panic. “There will always be roles for humans,” she said, even if those roles evolve in unexpected ways.Kinder also highlights the importance of direct engagement with AI technologies. “The more people actually interact with these tools, the more they can see the possibilities,” she said. While the pace of innovation is unsettling, it also presents opportunities for adaptation and growth.【Vocabulary】 1. obsolete adj. 过时的,淘汰2. Pew Research Center 皮尤研究中心,美国著名民调型智库机构3. misconception n. 错误认识,误解4. conflate v. 混淆5. paralegal n. 律师助理6. reshape v. 重塑,改造Part II. QuestionsQ1. What is one of the public misconceptions about generative AI according to Molly Kinder?A. It impacts traditional manufacturing jobs in factories. B. It is similar to outdated forms of automation technology. C. It cannot perform tasks like analyzing large datasets. D. It advances slower compared to other modern innovations. Q2. Which sectors are identified as most exposed to generative AI?A. Office work, legal, sales, and financial industries. B. Transportation, healthcare, and creative industries. C. Manufacturing, artistic, and customer service roles. D. Education, entertainment, and medical professions. Q3. What does Mark Muro suggest about generative AI’s impact on white-collar jobs?A. AI will completely replace white-collar jobs in the future. B. AI exposure does not necessarily mean job replacement. C. AI will make middle-class jobs less important to society. D. AI technologies will not affect process-oriented positions. Q4. What can be inferred about the adoption of generative AI in regulated fields?A. It progresses quickly and faces minimal resistance. B. It has already transformed industries like healthcare. C. It faces challenges due to cautious and strict regulations. D. It is unaffected by societal concerns about technology. Q5. What is the main idea of the text?A. Generative AI adoption is slower in regulated industries. B. AI’s societal impact is limited to automation technologies. C. Generative AI primarily affects blue-collar jobs in factories. D. Public anxiety about AI stems from job-related concerns. Part III. KEYQ1.【答案】B 【解析】细节题。题目出处为“She notes that people often conflate older forms of automation with the capabilities of generative AI.” 意为:“她指出,人们经常将旧式的自动化与生成式人工智能的能力混为一谈。”该句明确指出公众对生成式人工智能的误解是将其与旧式的自动化混淆,因此正确答案为B。 Q2. 【答案】A 【解析】细节题。题目出处为“Research by Kinder and her colleagues identifies office and administrative support, legal, sales, computers and math, and business and financial sectors as the most exposed to generative AI.”意为:“金德及其同事的研究指出,办公室和行政支持、法律、销售、计算机与数学、以及商业与金融领域是最容易受到生成式人工智能影响的领域。” 因此,正确答案为A。 Q3.【答案】B 【解析】细节题。题目出处为“Mark Muro ... highlights that exposure doesn’t necessarily mean replacement.” 意为:“马克·穆罗强调,受到人工智能的影响,并不一定意味着被取代。”该句清楚地指出,接触生成式人工智能并不一定意味着工作会被完全取代,因此正确答案为B。 Q4.【答案】C 【解析】推理题。题目出处为“While some industries, like computer programming, are already seeing shifts, others, particularly regulated fields like medicine and law, are proceeding cautiously.” 意为:“虽然一些行业,比如计算机编程,已经出现了变化,但其他行业,尤其是像医学和法律这样受监管的领域,正在谨慎推进。” 由此可以推断,生成式人工智能在受监管领域面临挑战,因此正确答案为C。 Q5.【答案】D 【解析】主旨题。题目出处为“Much of this worry revolves around job security.”意为:“大部分担忧都围绕着工作安全问题。”文章主要讨论了公众对生成式人工智能的误解以及与工作安全相关的担忧,因此正确答案为D。 (本文图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)